AP News Digest 6 p.m.
Here are the AP's latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EST. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom.ap.org.
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NEW/DEVELOPING
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GERMANY-SHOOTING — Several people have been shot to death in the city of Hanau, German police say. SENT: 100 words. UPCOMING: Developing.
Adds TRUMP-PATHS TO CLEMENCY, TRUMP-SUPERFUND, CLERGY ABUSE-HARRISBURG-BANKRUPTCY, SEXUAL MISCONDUCT-WEINSTEIN, ROBERT DURST-MURDER TRIAL, BORDER PATROL-FREEZING CELLS, CALIFORNIA-STATE OF STATE, MOTEL 6-IMMIGRATION SETTLEMENT, NASCAR-DAYTONA-NEWMAN.
ELECTION 2020-DEBATE — Debate starts 9 p.m.
TRUMP — Rally in Arizona starts 9 p.m.
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ONLY ON AP
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YEMEN-HOUTHI-AID DEMAND — Yemen’s Houthi rebels have blocked half of the United Nations’ aid delivery programs in the war-torn country — a strong-arm tactic to force the agency to give them greater control over the massive humanitarian campaign, along with a cut of billions of dollars in foreign assistance. By Maggie Michael. SENT: 2,130 words, photos. Abridged version also available.
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ELECTION 2020-DEBATE — Hours before taking the stage, Mike Bloomberg comes under attack from his Democratic rivals in a likely preview of his Wednesday night debate debut when the billionaire businessman meets his rivals onstage for the first time. Both Bernie Sanders’ and Joe Biden’s campaigns take aim at the 78-year-old former Republican, the former raising questions about Bloomberg's health and the latter pointing out reversals on key issues. By Steve Peoples, Alexandra Jaffe and Michelle L. Price. SENT: 1,200 words, photos. UPCOMING: Developing from 9 p.m. debate, 1100 words by 10 p.m., photos, video, with updates through the night. With ELECTION 2020-DEBATE-TAKEAWAYS — Highlights from the debate. UPCOMING: 750 words by 11 p.m., photos; ELECTION 2020-DEBATE-FACT CHECK — A look at the facts in the candidates’ statements. UPCOMING: 700 words by 10:30 p.m., photos.
Find more coverage on the 2020 U.S. Elections featured topic page in AP Newsroom.
TRUMP-ATTORNEY GENERAL — Attorney General William Barr’s suggestion that he may resign over the president’s tweets has Washington wondering what’s really afoot. Republicans on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue are questioning whether Barr is really considering quitting or merely threatening to walk as a way to quell an uproar within the Justice Department and bolster his own reputation. By Jonathan Lemire, Michael Balsamo and Mary Clare Jalonick. UPCOMING: 1,100 words by 7 p.m., photos. With TRUMP-TOP COP — Trump says he's the nation's top cop, a debatable claim. SENT: 660 words, photos.
TRUMP-PENTAGON — President Trump ousts the top Pentagon policy official, who last year certified that Ukraine had made enough progress in cleaning up corruption to justify releasing U.S. aid. The Trump administration's delay in releasing the aid to Ukraine was central to the president's House impeachment on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.By Lolita C. Baldor. SENT: 560 words, photos.
CHINA-OUTBREAK-STUCK IN LIMBO — The cheers of celebration have faded. The waving of roses has ceased. Having finally reached a friendly port in Cambodia willing to accept them after nearly two weeks of uncertainty at sea, hundreds of cruise ship passengers eyed warily over fears of a new virus are now simply trying to find a way home. By Matt Sedensky. SENT: 1,100 words, photo. With CHINA-OUTBREAK — China's virus center vows no patient unchecked as cases fall. SENT: 980 words, photo; CHINA-OUTBREAK-IRAN — Iran state news agency says new virus has killed two Iranians. SENT: 430 words, photos.
TRUMP-PATHS TO CLEMENCY — There's a common thread among the 11 felons who found favor with President Trump this week: All of those who were pardoned or set free had advocates among the president’s wealthy friends and political allies. By Michael Biesecker. UPCOMING: 1,200 words by 7 p.m., photos.
SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSES-SHORTAGE — A nationwide shortage of sexual assault nurse examiners means that rape victims are often forced to drive from hospital to hospital to find someone trained to examine them. In Virginia, only 16 out of 122 licensed hospitals provide sexual assault forensic exams. By Denise Lavoie. SENT: 830 words, photos.
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WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
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BRITAIN-ASSANGE — A lawyer for Julian Assange says the WikiLeaks founder plans to claim during his extradition hearing that he was offered a pardon by the Trump administration if he agreed to say Russia was not involved in leaking Democratic National Committee emails. SENT: 370 words.
BRITAIN-ROYALS — Britain's Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, are breaking free of the royal family starting March 31, the couple’s office says. SENT: 330 words, photos.
BURGER KING-MOLDY WHOPPER — Burger King is portraying a Whopper covered in mold in print and TV ads. The message: the chain is removing artificial preservatives from the Whopper. SENT: 150 words, photos.
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ELECTION 2020-NEVADA VOTE COUNT — Democrats won’t commit to releasing the unofficial results of Saturday’s Nevada caucuses on the day of the vote, as they emphasize accuracy over speed in the aftermath of the chaos surrounding the Iowa caucuses. SENT: 830 words, photos. With ELECTION 2020-NEVADA-REID — Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says the crowded Democratic primary may be headed toward a contentious convention fight. UPCOMING: 600 words by 7 p.m., photos.
ELECTION 2020-SOUTH CAROLINA — The wealthiest of the wealthy are the consistent villains in Bernie Sanders' campaign narrative. But it could be billionaire Tom Steyer who helps to propel Sanders to success in the crucial state of South Carolina. SENT: 1,150 words, photos. With ELECTION 20920-STEYER-BLOOMBERG — Steyer cites “racist" Bloomberg tactics in Super Tuesday ad. SENT: 490 words, photos.
TRUMP — President Trump is using Day 2 of his swing out West to check off the quintessential to-do list for a president seeking reelection. SENT: 630 words, photos, video. UPCOMING: Developing from 9 p.m. rally.
ELECTION 2020-MEDICARE FOR ALL-LABOR — Organized labor is split over abolishing widespread private insurance and the fight is intensifying as Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders tops the field. BUPCOMING: 800 words by 7 p.m.
ELECTION 2020-SANDERS-HEALTH — Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, after suffering a heart attack on the campaign trail, pledged to release “comprehensive” medical records. So far, he hasn't followed through. SENT: 700 words, photos.
Find more coverage on the 2020 U.S. Elections featured topic page on APNewsroom.
TRUMP-BLAGOJEVICH — Former Illinois Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich gushes about Donald Trump, a day after the Republican president commuted his sentence for political corruption. SENT: 560 words, video, photos.
TRUMP-SUPERFUND — Figures show the Trump administration finished the fewest Superfund cleanups last year than any administration since the 1980s. SENT: 470 words, photo.
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BOY SCOUTS-BANKRUPTCY — The Boy Scouts of America face an uncertain future after filing for bankruptcy to deal with a mountain of sex-abuse lawsuits. SENT: 980 words, photos.
CLERGY ABUSE-HARRISBURG-BANKRUPTCY — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, filed for bankruptcy Wednesday, six months after disclosing it had paid millions of dollars to people sexually abused as children by its clerics. SENT: 700 words, photo.
SEXUAL MISCONDUCT-WEINSTEIN — Jurors at Harvey Weinstein's rape trial spend much of their second day of deliberations revisiting a former film and TV production assistant's allegation that he sexually assaulted her in July 2006. SENT: 620 words, video, photos.
ROBERT DURST-MURDER TRIAL — New York real estate heir Robert Durst is going on trial five years after his arrest on a charge he killed his best friend in her California home. SENT: 650 words, photos.
CALIFORNIA-STATE OF STATE — California's governor says the state should lower the legal bar for providing forced treatment to the mentally ill and building more homeless shelters. SENT: 1,000 words, photos.
BORDER PATROL-FREEZING CELLS — A U.S. judge in Arizona issues a permanent order requiring the Border Patrol to provide clean mats and thin blankets to migrants within 12 hours of arriving at a facility. SENT: 530 words.
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CHINA-US-REPORTERS CREDENTIALS — China revokes the press credentials of three reporters for the U.S. newspaper The Wall Street Journal over a headline for an opinion column deemed racist by the government. SENT: 850 words, photos.
SYRIA — A Syrian passenger jet lands in Aleppo from Damascus, marking the resumption of domestic flights between Syria's two largest cities for the first time since 2012. SENT: 1,035 words, photos.
BRITAIN IMMIGRATION — Britain has announced new immigration rules that will take effect next year — alarming many businesses who rely on large numbers of workers from the EU. SENT: 1,065 words, photos.
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HEALTH/SCIENCE
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HEART SURGERY-AGE BIAS — People are more likely to buy things when prices end in 99 cents rather than rounded up to the next dollar. Researchers now say something similar might be happening with age perception and heart surgery. By Chief Medical Writer Marilynn Marchione. SENT: 460 words, photos.
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MOTEL 6-IMMIGRATION SETTLEMENT — A judge gives final approval to a $10 million settlement in a lawsuit that alleged Motel 6 employees in Phoenix shared the whereabouts and private information of guests with immigration authorities who later arrested some of them. SENT: 470 words, photo.
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NASCAR-DAYTONA-NEWMAN — Ryan Newman is released from a Florida hospital two days after his frightening crash on the final lap of the Daytona 500. By Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer. SENT: 460 words, photos.
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RAPPER KILLED — An up-and-coming rapper known as Pop Smoke is fatally shot during a break-in at a Hollywood Hills home, his label says. Los Angeles police do not immediately confirm the identification. SENT: 590 words, photos.
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